Alan Cochrane @ Rugby Park

Least said, soonest mended, should be the approach here, following one of the poorest matches seen at Rugby Park for many a long day. St Mirren, after three defeats in a row, came here, quite understandably, in a defensive frame of mind, and this coincided with almost all the home players having an off-day. Kilmarnock just didn't have the guile to get round the five players that the Saints strung across the middle of the park, and the visitors didn't have the finishing touch to capitalise on any breakaways they created.

The first half was a desperate affair, with Alan Combe blocking away St Mirren's solitary shot at goal after Allan Johnston lost the ball in his own half, while Killie didn't trouble Chris Smith at the other end at all. Substitutes were inevitable early in the second half, so it was no surprise when Gary Locke and David Fernandez were added to what could hardly be called a fray; JJ's problem must have been who to leave on, candidates for going home early were many.

Gary Locke did add more bite and balance to the middle, but David Fernandez joined the list of good footballers who simply didn't perform on the day. There were a couple of scrambles around the Saints' goal, a claim for hand-ball in the box, but Killie's best chances came from two own-goal attempts from Will Haining, one narrowly wide, one just over.

Jim Jefferies' comment to the assembled hacks at the end? I'm surprised you're still here, I thought you would have gone home at half time. We probably should have.

Kilmarnock: Combe, Fowler, Lilley, Wright, Ford, Nish, Johnston, Dodds (Locke), Gibson (Bryson), Clancy, Jarvis (Fernandez)

St Mirren: Smith, Van Zanten, Reid (McGinn), Mason, Haining, Potter, Murray, Mehmet (Kean), O'Donnell, McCay, Burchall

Referee: Eddie Smith